By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin’s soccer team knew it had its work cut out for it in facing Topeka High, but the Lions were able to ride their first-half offensive attack and backline success to a 5-2 victory at Sunflower Soccer Complex on Thursday.
Cair Paravel Latin soccer coach Doug Woolery talks to his team after Thursday's 5-2 non-league win over Topeka High. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
After a perfect weekend at the Titan Classic in Wichita, where the Lions won the Red Bracket championshi and a 10-0 win on Monday against Bishop Ward, their win streak was extended to four matches with the victory against Topeka High.
In its latest win streak, Cair Paravel has shown glimpses of last year’s team that made a run to the Class 4A-1A state tournament.
“I was happy with how we performed against (Topeka High),” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. “I feel like we are getting better every single game because they’re doing things better that need to get done. Today, I thought there were more of those moments where the small ball developed into making scoring opportunities. We didn’t always capitalize on those moments, but I felt like we put ourselves in a position where more of those scoring opportunities were prevalent.
“Topeka High is always a tough game for us. Derek (Snook) does a great job with his girls. We knew it was going to be a physical, tough game. A win is good, but a win against a tough team like Topeka High is even sweeter.”
Cair Paravel lit the scoreboard up in the first half with four goals while keeping Topeka High scoreless.
Sophomore Zahra Friess had the first two goals, while junior Katherine Keys earned the next two. Freshman KellyAnn Chada had three assists, and senior Sage Schwartz had one as in the first half.
“I think anytime you can get off to a good start like that, it adds fuel to the fire and keeps you going,” Woolery said. “I thought KellyAnn (Chada), who normally can combine with Zahra and Katherine, unselfishly fed them the ball when she had the opportunity. I’m super excited about where we were today. I felt like our girls were ready today. We came out on fire, and that was good to see.”
As well as the offense played in the first half, the defense shut down Topeka High’s stellar attack. Whenever the Trojans opened their offense up with through balls, Cair Paravel was always there to quickly block shot attempts.
Woolery recognized early in the season that he needed to adjust to create a dominant defense. With his adjustments, Cair Paravel has only allowed two goals in the last four matches.
“My defense is tough,” Woolery said. “I’m doing different things on defense. I’ve been trying to find the right pieces, and since the Hayden game, I moved Allison Schwarz to outside back. Amania Vincent, she’s a fighter, and I moved her to outside back. I had both of those girls starting today, and I feel like they make us a stronger team than we were against Hayden or Seaman.”
Cair Paravel’s 4-0 advantage at the halftime break made it extremely difficult for the Trojans to create a comeback.
Topeka High got the match to a two-goal deficit, allowing them to make a daunting task possible.
Eight minutes, 42 seconds into the second half, Cair Paravel got an own goal, decreasing Topeka High’s deficit to 4-1. Then, senior Haley Carpenter earned a goal 17:08 into the second half to make the match 4-2.
Cair Paravel would close the door on Topeka High’s comeback efforts at the 26:12 mark with a goal from junior Emma Keller, assisted by Sage Schwartz.
Woolery really only has one complaint about his team at this point in the season..
“We need to play a little more physical and aggressively; we are just too nice,” Woolery said. “If they knock somebody down, they will stop and help them up, which is great, but not on the soccer field. The soccer field is a field of battle. So you have to put on your armor, get out there, and have a fighter’s mentality, but with rules.”
Cair Paravel (5-1-1) will hit the road to take on Heritage Christian Academy on Tuesday. Topeka High (3-3) will travel to Eudora for a non-league matchup on Tuesday.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 5, TOPEKA HIGH 2
Topeka High (3-3) 0 2 – 2
Cair Paravel (5-1-1) 4 1 – 5
Goals – Cair Paravel: Friess 2, Keys 2, Keller. Topeka High – Cair Paravel (own), Carpenter. Assists – Cair Paravel: Chada 3, Schwarz 2.
